Wednesday, January 8, 2003

International Peace Force for Iraq QUOTE OF THE DAY "Civil disobedience becomes a sacred duty when the State becomes lawless and corrupt." - - Mahatma Gandhi RHINO HERE: I received an emailed Call To Action today, as did thousands of other people throughout Europe, the U.S. and Canada from a group calling itself International Peace Force for Iraq. The writers claim to be gathering together all the organizations worldwide planning to send human shields to Iraq. It says, "Yes; 100,000 or more concerned citizens from America, Western Europe and elsewhere armed only with sleeping bags, signs, cameras, and our will to prevent war, will travel to Iraq to stand down the invasion." So anyone who's dropped me emails asking for more concrete ways to make a difference than reading well written articles and critiquing shrub & company, read on. And you don't have to go to Iraq, to help. 9:17:30 AM    comment

Call To Action From: peaceteam2003@yahoo.com Sent: Tuesday, January 07, 2003 9:03 PM Subject: PREVENT the war in Iraq This call for action comes as an exact strategy to halt an invasion. As more info and details come in and obstacles are overcome and more people come on board, we will let everyone know.This outreach list is a compilation of several groups with similar plans. Most valuable and notable liev@becomethechange.org. A further list is at the bottom of the letter. WHO CAN PREVENT A WAR ON IRAQ? - ACTUALLY, WE ALL CAN. BY SUPPORTING PEACETEAMS GOING TO IRAQ The idea is simple, legal, and is our responsibility under International Law. It may be the most humanitarian thing you ever do. The world agrees that a pre-emptive war against Iraq is immoral and illegal. The action we would take is based on preventing Crimes Against Humanity. The unification of all factions that don't want war would be accomplished by focusing on a pre-emptive humanitarian action with no political alliances or affiliations assigned, but all endorsements accepted. JUST LIKE GHANDI Yes; 100,000 or more concerned citizens from America, Western Europe and elsewhere armed only with sleeping bags, signs, cameras, and our will to prevent war will travel to Iraq to stand down the invasion. While we acknowledge similar intentions are emerging spontaneously around the world, a coherent support structure would greatly enhance these efforts and help address the challenges of the trip. The working name is the International Peace Force for Iraq The name really doesn't matter. As long as the message doesn't carry political baggage or excludes any particular group. This action is an opportunity for many groups to work together for a humanitarian victory over militarism. EVEN THE U.S. GOV'T WON'T KILL IT'S OWN UNARMED PEOPLE. Certainly not in large numbers. They also can't kill E.U. citizens . Most E.U. gov'ts are coalitions and would be too delicate to allow U.S. troops and their allies to kill any visible number of their own. One part that assures success is this: thanks to modern telecommunications technology available to us the whole event will be televised live around the world. We are talking about everyone who believes that an unarmed group in large enough numbers can stand-down a military takeover with the cameras on so the world can witness. This is based on the Indymedia video model used successfully worldwide to bring out the real story but now able to be uplinked live. They'll be no censorship here. THREE THINGS YOU CAN DO: 1. ENDORSEMENT 2. SPONSORSHIP & SUPPORT 3. MAKE THE TRIP An endorsement is only an acknowledgment that the plan will work and an agreement to let others know about it. GROUP ENDORSEMENTS - First we seek to obtain from as many anti-war groups as possible the acknowledgment that this plan will work. They can further assist by getting the word out, disseminating press releases, suggestions and links to a neutral information and support website. All group and individual endorsements are welcome, but please refrain from including political statements. By staying humanitarian and humanitarian only we stay above accusations while achieving the same result. CLERICAL ENDORSEMENTS will be sought. Many religious groups have come out against any pre-emptive attack so the leap of faith to endorsement of a nonviolent peace action is more like a short jump. The same is true for many well-known personalities. Types of endorsements possible: * CELEBRITY ENDORSEMENTS * BUSINESS ENDORSEMENTS * COMMUNITY ENDORSEMENTS * UNION ENDORSEMENTS * NATION STATE ENDORSEMENTS * LEGAL SOCIETY ENDORSEMENTS SPONORSHIP & SUPPORT -- An Investment in Peace How will financial support be solicited and how will the fund be set up? We now have call out for a humanitarian organization with worldwide credibility to set up an account, receive microdonations, and coordinate travel reimbursement and subsidies in a transparent manner. As endorsements and active links are established and word spreads, we can target appeals for donations to millions of individuals, and if one million individuals choose to give $1- $5, then this war will not happen. This will be combined with a second tier of supporters and organizations that can help at a higher level. Totals of monies raised and allocation of funds would be posted on the same website. LOGISTICS and QUESTIONS Small groups are going to Iraq now, just not in large enough numbers to forestall war. An organized effort including endorsements, a travel sponsorship program, a telecommunications uplink and practical information will turn out the numbers and the exposure to prevent any attack. To attract sufficient numbers of humanitarian visitors, we must make available information on visa info, travel options and expenses, ground transportation, maps, nonviolent training, and the idea that they are not alone; that war is not inevitable as long as individuals of conscience are willing to take a stand up for peace. TOOLS WE HAVE TO ASSURE SUCCESS 1. Make aware thru press releases and updates to UN members the extent of the involvement of their citizens i.e. names and numbers of their citizens on the ground requiring protection. 2. Access to worldwide uplinks. Constant media blasts ,live tv, live internet, and connecting media activists on the ground with media coordinators. 3. Funding; Host a fully transparent clearinghouse of donations and their distribution. The decision to make such a trip is very individual, however by providing an information and support network we can give success a better chance. THIS CALL TO ACTION POSTED AT http://www.hootmedia.com/peace LIST OF ORGANIZATIONS PLANNING HUMAN SHIELDS Global Nonviolent Peace Force http://www.peace.ca/globalnonviolentpeaceforce.htm UK "human shield" effort http://www.uksociety.org US Human Shields http://www.becomethechange.org/index.htm Voices in the Wilderness http://iraqpeaceteam.org/ Voices UK http://www.viwuk.freeserve.co.uk Nonviolent Peaceforce Canada http://www.npcanada.org Nonviolent Peaceforce http://www.nonviolentpeaceforce.org Christian Peacemaker Teams http://www.prairienet.org/cpt/ Friends Peace Team http://www.quaker.org/fptp/ Michigan Peace Team http://www.michiganpeaceteam.org/schedule.html Some European Anti war/sanctions groups that have sent delegations to Iraq http://www.endthewar.org/members/europe.htm 9:15:52 AM    comment

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